Chapter 51

Chapter 51: Kiss Her

“He will,” Huo Zheng said simply.

Chun Zhi asked, puzzled: “Why are you so sure?”

[Because I am Prince Chang’an,] Huo Zheng thought. But he could not tell her that yet.

So he told her: “Prince Chang’an came on behalf of the Imperial Court. He is here to investigate matters in Nanzhou and clear old cases. So he will bring Zhou Rong to justice.”

Chun Zhi thought it over: “Then Prince Chang’an is a good prince.”

“You say that now?” Huo Zheng said: “Earlier you complained that after Prince Chang’an came to Nanzhou, you couldn’t set up your stall to do business.”

“Earlier was earlier. Now is now,” Chun Zhi said.

Back then, she never dreamed she would one day need help from Prince Chang’an himself.

Huo Zheng smiled and said no more.

After lunch, Chun Zhi grew sleepy again.

Huo Zheng stood up and said: “My close friend said we need a witness to bring Zhou Rong to justice. I have to go to Nanzhou City these next two days to wait for the summons. Stay home and be good. We’ll talk when I return.”

“When are you going?” Chun Zhi asked.

“Now,” Huo Zheng said.

Chun Zhi was clearing the bowls. Hearing that, she felt a bit reluctant: “Right now? So soon?”

Looking at her, Huo Zheng said slowly: “I should have gone last night, but you clung to me and wouldn’t let go. I had no choice but to delay until today.”

She had been fed a Passion Pill by Zhou Rong last night. Thinking of it, Chun Zhi’s cheeks heated: “Alright, I get it. No need to say more. Go.”

Huo Zheng didn’t rush out. He asked instead: “You don’t want me to wash the dishes today?”

“Are you getting addicted to washing dishes?” Chun Zhi said: “Not today. Go handle the important matter.”

Huo Zheng answered “Alright” and turned to leave.

Chun Zhi finished gathering the bowls, then remembered something and called out: “Wait…”

Huo Zheng turned back: “What is it?”

“Come here,” Chun Zhi said, waving him over.

He walked to her, unhurried: “What else?”

“Do you have money on you?” Chun Zhi asked.

“Why ask that?” Huo Zheng said.

He had never carried money; back in the capital, with that face, who would dare take his coin?

“I heard that in official circles you always need money to smooth things over. You’re asking your friend for help, so how can you not give him anything? Wait here, I’ll get the silver.”

She went inside.

The day she left the Lu Clan, Lu Jing Yun gave her three hundred taels in banknotes. She had given half to Yu Zhu, so one hundred fifty taels remained.

Chun Zhi took out one hundred taels for Huo Qi, then hesitated, took the remaining fifty taels too, and brought all one hundred fifty to him.

“Here are one hundred fifty taels,” Chun Zhi said, handing him the banknotes: “Take them. Don’t scrimp if money is needed. Give your friend what he deserves so he can smooth things out for you…”

A strange feeling stirred in Huo Zheng’s chest: “One hundred fifty taels? Selling your tofu workshop wouldn’t fetch that much. Where did this come from?”

He feared this was every coin Chun Zhi had saved, earned by waking before dawn for years to sell tofu. And she was handing all of it to him.

“It wasn’t stolen and it wasn’t robbed,” Chun Zhi said. She didn’t want to tell Huo Qi she had gotten it from Lu Jing Yun: “Just use it with peace of mind.”

She cared a lot about money, but this time Huo Qi had provoked Zhou Rong while saving her.

And who was Zhou Rong? The Nanzhou Prefect’s son. If this matter could not be settled, the trouble for her and Huo Zheng would be endless.

Chun Zhi understood that well, so she didn’t hesitate to give up all her silver to fix it.

Maybe to officials, one hundred fifty taels was nothing.

But it was everything she could give.

As for the one hundred taels of gold from Gu Yuan Jia, Chun Zhi planned to return it, so she would not touch it.

Huo Zheng took the banknotes. They were light, but when he thought of how Chun Zhi had saved them bit by bit, they felt heavy in his hand.

Forget it. He would find a way to return it later.

He tucked the notes into his sleeve.

“Don’t put them in your sleeve. They might fall,” Chun Zhi said, telling him to keep them at his chest. One hundred fifty taels was no small sum; he must not lose it.

Huo Zheng did as she said and changed the spot.

Chun Zhi smoothed his lapel: “Alright. Go.”

Huo Zheng murmured “Mm,” then turned and headed out.

“Huo Qi,” Chun Zhi couldn’t help calling him again.

He stopped and looked back, a little helpless smile on his lips: “If you have something else to say, say it all at once.”

“If your close friend can’t handle Zhou Rong, then go. Go far away and don’t come back for me,” Chun Zhi said. She hoped everything would go well for Huo Qi, but she couldn’t stop herself from thinking of the worst: “We’re only fake husband and wife. You don’t need to risk your life for me.”

In Nanzhou, the prefect held great power. Zhou Rong had bullied countless families in Nanzhou City. When those families later sought justice, every case ended with nothing. In the end, some moved away, some swallowed the insult, and a few were even wiped out.

Chun Zhi did not want Huo Qi to gamble his life for her. So she said this before he left for Nanzhou City.

Huo Zheng walked up to her, tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and said softly: “I’ll be fine. Don’t overthink.”

He had been born into the imperial clan. Since he could remember, he had been taught that every person you meet and every thing you do must serve a purpose.

But Chun Zhi wasn’t like anyone he had met before.

She was kind at heart and simple as a blank page. When faced with danger, she did not beg for protection; she worried about not dragging others down.

Chun Zhi nodded: “I mean, just in case…”

“There is no just in case,” Huo Zheng said. He pressed lightly on the back of her neck and spoke in a low voice: “I’ll be fine, and you’ll be fine. Wait for me at my home.”

Chun Zhi nodded: “Then I’ll wait for you.”

“Good girl,” Huo Zheng said with a smile, praising her.

A faint blush colored Chun Zhi’s face: “Alright, go now. Don’t delay proper business.”

She didn’t know why, but she suddenly felt that Huo Qi’s words were especially trustworthy. If Huo Qi said there would be no trouble, she believed him.

Huo Zheng cupped the back of her neck, lowered his head, and kissed her on the lips: “I’m going.”

Softly, Chun Zhi said: “If you’re going, just go. Why kiss me?”

Huo Zheng left with a smile.

Chun Zhi stepped forward to close the courtyard gate. She watched Huo Qi’s figure vanish at the end of the alley, then pushed the door nearly shut.

Just when only a sliver remained, someone outside suddenly pushed it open…